Welcome to DBSTalk

Welcome to DBSTalk. Our community covers all aspects of video delivery solutions including: Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS), Cable Television, and Internet Protocol Television (IPTV). We also have forums to discuss popular television programs, home theater equipment, and internet streaming service providers. Members of our community include experts who can help you solve technical problems, industry professionals, company representatives, and novices who are here to learn.

Like most online communities you must register to view or post in our community. Sign-up is a free and simple process that requires minimal information. Be a part of our community by signing in or creating an account. The Digital Bit Stream starts here!

"But the freedom that they fought for, and the country grand they wrought for, is their monument today, and for aye." "This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave."

Last season I recorded all of Season 1 before watching it, in case the show failed mostly, but then once I sat down and watched it I didn't want to stop. Now I'm recording Season 2 and will wait for it to complete before I watch as well. I'm sure that I'll handle Season 3 the same way.

Last season I recorded all of Season 1 before watching it, in case the show failed mostly, but then once I sat down and watched it I didn't want to stop. Now I'm recording Season 2 and will wait for it to complete before I watch as well. I'm sure that I'll handle Season 3 the same way.

I'm doing the same. It's a show that leaves you wanting the next episode as soon as you finish one.

If you stop responding to them or put them on ignore, then eventually they'll go away.

Last season I recorded all of Season 1 before watching it, in case the show failed mostly, but then once I sat down and watched it I didn't want to stop. Now I'm recording Season 2 and will wait for it to complete before I watch as well. I'm sure that I'll handle Season 3 the same way.

I'm doing the same. It's a show that leaves you wanting the next episode as soon as you finish one.

I thought it was short too until I looked at the counter. Couldn't believe how fast it went.

You get caught up in it and time just flies. I wish I had the discipline of those that actually record an entire season without peeking, then marathon till their heart's content ... unfortunately, I don't (have the discipline), and I do (peek).

I guess it should not be surprising that the geniuses behind 24 are running this show. For HBO they have the luxury of enough time to do quality work, and every ep is top-shelf. For 24, they had to crank out 24 eps a year for what, 8 seasons? They had to take a year off just to catch up with themselves. Consequently, there are a few klinkers from 24 that did not measure up to the very high standards they themselves had set (whatserface getting chased by a cougar, anyone?). But by and large, 24 was a groundbreaking and iconic hit, precisely because of how talented these writers and producers are. Kudos too, to Sean Callery, who every week sets the bar higher for the production music, just as he did for 24. This guy is a genius in how he knows how to support the intensity and intrigue; If 24 and Homeland were the cakes, Sean's music is the icing. I think he does Last Resort, also--one of the new shows anyway.

One thing they brought over from 24 was a very high skill level and ability to create cliff-hanger ep wrap ups. Every ep has a twist at the end that makes you want to see the next ep right away; it's pure, unadulterated genius. 24 had that same quality.

I had never liked Claire Danes all that much; only about an 8 for starters, and the only thing I ever really liked with her in it was the pilot of "My So-Called Life" (IIRC) when she was about 16. Well, she has completely won me over. Now I want to just hug her and take her home with me, her character being so vulnerable and needy. I always considered Damian Lewis to be one of the best actors working, but Claire Danes is out-effing-standing. All the awards? They all deserved every single one.

This (my original feeling that Claire Danes might be over-rated and my lack of interest as her cast in the lead) is why I was on the fence regarding this show and never watched it. Later I regretted this because of all of the high praise the show was getting. Last year I stumbled across a marathon one Saturday morning on Showtime, and on a whim, recorded the whole season all in one day. Best decision I ever made.

But unlike Henry, even though I had the entire series double-recorded, I always put at least a 4-8 day buffer between every ep. It's not so much for me a matter of discipline, but experience (I am an Olympic-caliber couch potato, after all). I find that this is the sweet spot; close enough to be able to keep the thread intact in your head, but far enough apart to be able to savor the series for a relatively long time.

This year, however, its been must-see TV time; every Sunday within an hour or two of it airing, I gobble it right up. But I'm also fickle; I was doing the same thing with Justified, yet I still have 4 eps left from last year and haven't seen an ep in months. Maybe I got tired of dumb $#!+kickers and hillbilly heroin-related violence. Nobody on the show seems smart enough to be much of a threat to Raylan Givens anymore. He needs a Moriarity.

Edited by TomCat, 10 November 2012 - 11:49 PM.

It's usually safe to talk honestly and openly with people because they typically are not really listening anyway.

... I do get a tad weary of Claire Dane's character's histrionics. In real life, she wouldn't get within 100 miles of Langley.

There is an element of having to suspend your disbelief in every program, and I agree that this program seems to have a lot of that compared to most, but they can get away with it because the sheer talent is so great that it wins you over in spite of that.

These producers also have a history of that. I remember Jack Bauer being able to face time live on his cell phone (years before Apple or Skype ever figured this out) from the basement level of an underground parking structure. 5 bars, I guess. No pixellation, no latency, perfect audio with no lipsync error.

I bought into it completely, and that was because the story was so compelling it overwhelmed all of the little flaws like this.

It's usually safe to talk honestly and openly with people because they typically are not really listening anyway.

Yes, she's good, damned good, but could go a lot softer on the facials...

(actually, there are multiple ways to interpret that comment .)

But like I said, she's an 8, not a 10. If Naomi Watts or Kate Beckinsale had the part, I probably would have been on board from the beginning. Shallow, admittedly, but I'm not about to apologize for that at this late date. I just think that neither of them could have touched her in how well she has acquitted herself in this role.

10's look better the closer you get; 8's don't; in fact maybe just the opposite. She is a little angular, and sadly that's her worst feature. But maybe its a little harsh to dissect someone who still is better-looking than about 90% of everyone else out there. I'm not Brad Pitt, myself (or even his brother Stu Pitt. Get it?)

But she's so good she can convey what she needs to without a closeup. The director should pick up on that and use it to both of their advantages.

It's usually safe to talk honestly and openly with people because they typically are not really listening anyway.

But like I said, she's an 8, not a 10. If Naomi Watts or Kate Beckinsale had the part, I probably would have been on board from the beginning. Shallow, admittedly, but I'm not about to apologize for that at this late date. I just think that neither of them could have touched her in how well she has acquitted herself in this role.

Throw in Halle Berry and Charlize Theron, o.k.?? While all four of those women are knockouts, and at least three of them could do the rôle, Danes is better as she's not unbelievably pretty/beautiful/pick your adjective.

And, yeah, my comment came back to hit me in the face....facial expressions, yeah, that's the ticket........

You may have noticed a lot of whining about the first 3 eps of Homeland this season, and in particular some moaning about ep 3, all among the real and imagined critics and reviewers that populate the internet and entertainment sites and forums. Also all over USAToday and FlipBoard folks were threatening to bail.

I agreed to a point; those eps were not up to the season one standards, but even well below those standards you can not drag me away from watching this still-terrific show.

Now, we have ep 4, Game On. It was a game changer (which also would have been an appropriate title) to the point where anything I say here now will be a....

Spoiler

Yes, Ma'am, a spoiler, because the entire first part of the season was a setup, and it was pulled off brilliantly by Alex Gansa and the crew. I did not see this coming, although I did, near the end, think that if Carrie could punk these guys and get Saul to buy in, we were going to have a helluva season.

But, of course, Saul was the mastermind, and already in. He even fooled Dar Amal or whatever his name is, and all of his minions.

And at the risk of sounding like a broken record, Claire Danes just blew the doors off of this one. I am beginning to think she is the new gold standard for "great actress", because she is now in a league of her own.

This ep bears a second viewing (once you have the "dramatic irony" POV of knowing the con), and when you do see it a second time, you understand just how terrific Danes is, and how great this script was.

This move was the craftiest dramatic reveal in recent memory, for sure, and may go down in history.

And Claire Danes? I have renewed respect, also for sure, and I am now crazy in love with Carrie Mathison. The vulnerability alone just makes you want to hug her and protect her. What an amazing, intoxicatingly-flawed human being. Possibly the most interesting character on television. And there was only one very subtle lip quiver in the entire performance.

Claire Danes is not really beautiful, not really all that feminine, not girly, or round and soft where she should be, but boy is Carrie Mathison ever attractive. I can't get enough of that girl. She is my favorite female character since "Parker" on Leverage.

I expect a lot of crow to be eaten this week on all of those websites.

Edited by TomCat, 21 October 2013 - 08:10 PM.

beachcamp likes this

It's usually safe to talk honestly and openly with people because they typically are not really listening anyway.

I agree with most all you said. To include the fact that hubby and I just had a conversation about how boring the first few episodes were. But it seems strange that each episode either has Carrie or Brody, but not both. I wonder if one of them was off filming something else, so they taped separately.

Shannon

"But the freedom that they fought for, and the country grand they wrought for, is their monument today, and for aye." "This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave."

^ Is that the sound of stunned silence I hear -or- has almost everyone left the room?

Was the season 3 finale of Homeland a show-stopper, as in a series ender?

SPOILER AHEAD - if you haven't yet seen the the season 3 finale, do not read the

spoiler.

Spoiler

In the 3rd season finale, was Brody's death by hanging real or symbolic and prophetic for the ending of Homeland next season? Carrie, pregnant, is being shuffled off to Istanbul as CIA station chief. Saul is out the door, but will that become a revolving door? And Brody? Well, it seems the show's writers fell asleep before the crane elevated Brody to his heavenly reward. In the real Hollywood world, these events would spell doom for most shows -- but Homeland is not just any show. But without Brody and Saul how can the protagonist Carrie, carry on?